United Airlines will begin a daily Newark-Dubai service, returning to the UAE after more than seven years. Despite once being major foes, it results directly from the new agreement with Emirates. It'll supplement Emirates' existing daily one-stop Dubai-Newark operation, bringing to 15 the number of daily Dubai-US flights.

United returns to Dubai

United last served Dubai from Washington Dulles in January 2016. Now the airline's coming back but under very different circumstances. Using four-class 276-seat 777-200ERs, it'll take off from Newark to Dubai on March 25th and will be the only US airline serving the UAE.

The schedule of its new route is as follows, with all times local. Emirates' Newark operation is included for completeness:

• Newark to Dubai: UA164, 21:40-19:05+1 (13h 25m block time)
• Newark to Dubai (via Athens): EK210, 23:55-23:35+1 (15h 40m) ← existing
• Dubai to Newark: UA163, 01:55-08:45 (14h 50m)
• Dubai to Newark (via Athens): EK209, 10:50-21:20 (18h 30m) ← existing

While United's nonstop will help penetrate the NYC-Dubai and Newark-Dubai point-to-point markets further, it will be essential for transit passengers. According to United, passengers can connect from Newark over Dubai to 100+ destinations served by Emirates and flydubai, ensuring more one-stop opportunities, especially to smaller places. However, it doesn't seem that Emirates/flydubai passengers will be able to interline over Newark.

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Up to 15 daily flights

This new route means that, from the end of March, Emirates and United will together have up to 15 daily Dubai-USA flights on a network spanning 12 US airports. As of September 15th, the following is available between March 28th and April 3rd:

1. New York JFK: triple daily A380 (double daily nonstop, daily via Milan)
2. Newark: double daily 777-200ER, B777-300ER (one nonstop, one via Athens)
3. Boston: daily 777-300ER
4. Chicago O'Hare: daily 777-300ER
5. Dallas Fort Worth: daily 777-200LR
6. Houston Intercontinental: daily A380
7. Los Angeles: daily A380
8. Miami: daily 777-300ER
9. San Francisco: daily A380
10. Seattle: daily 777-300ER
11. Washington Dulles: daily A380
12. Orlando: five weekly 777-300ER

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A day in the life

On March 29th, for example, Dubai's US departures/arrivals are summarized as follows. United's timings mean Newark has a departure in Emirates' growing ~02:00-03:00 bank and an arrival in the crucial early evening bank.

Might United add more Dubai routes, whether supplementing Emirates (for example, Washington Dulles needs peak-time flights) or from other hubs, such as Denver? Turkish Airlines seeks Istanbul-Denver but hasn't added it yet due to a lack of aircraft.

What do you think of it all? Let us know in the comments.

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  United Airlines

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  North America

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  Emirates

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  Emirates Skywards